Ethical and Green

A while ago we looked at green cars and how engines are being modified to run on biofuels and alternative sources of fuel.  However, not all of us (me included) have a car that has low CO2 emissions so what can you do to keep emissions lower without having to fork out for a new car?  The obvious answer is to leave the car at home and use public transport or cycle/walk to your destination.  This is great but what if you need your car for work?  Thankfully some companies such as PwC have low CO2 emission company cars but this is not the norm.

If you want to reduce CO2 emissions whilst you are driving here are a few tips from the UK Government about driving efficiently.  When fuel prices are so high this is useful for everyone!

• driving smoothly can reduce fuel consumption - check the road ahead, anticipate traffic and avoid harsh acceleration and braking
• shift to a higher gear at the right time - shift up at 2500rpm for petrol cars and 2000rpm for diesel cars. A vehicle travelling at 37mph in third gear uses 25 per cent more fuel than it would at the same speed in fifth gear
• get in and go - modern engines are designed to be most efficient when you just get in and go. Keeping the engine running or pumping the accelerator wastes fuel, increases engine wear and increases emissions
• switch your engine off if you know you won’t be moving for a while
• check your tyre pressures regularly - under-inflated tyres can increase your fuel consumption by up to three per cent
• stick to the speed limits - at 70mph you could be using up to 30 per cent more fuel than at 50mph
• remove unnecessary weight and roof racks - they increase the weight and air resistance so they increase the amount of fuel you use
• air conditioning and other on-board electrical devices (like mobile phone chargers) increase fuel consumption, so only use them when necessary